LAN Chile - Linea Aérea Nacional de Chile

BAe 146

Following an uneventful flight from Punta Arenas, the crew was cleared for a VOR approach to runway 26. After the wind component changed, the crew decided to perform a straight-in approach to runway 08. The aircraft landed too far down the runway (427 meters past the runway threshold) and at a speed of 112 knots (Vref was 110 knots with a target touchdown speed of 103 knots). Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the aircraft overran, plunged in the Beagle Canal and came to rest about 20 meters from the shore. 17 occupants were wounded and 35 other occupants escaped uninjured. 20 passengers were killed in the accident.

Boeing 737-200

The first 880 meters of runway 27 at Calama Airport were closed due to repavement. Thus, a notam was published with a displaced threshold. The pilot was facing the sun when approaching Calama Airport and landed 520 meters short of the displaced threshold. The aircraft struck various materials when the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft slid on its nose for few hundred meters before coming to rest on the runway, broken in two. A passenger died while all other occupants were rescued. The aircraft caught fire after 30 minutes and was destroyed.

Boeing 707

On final approach to Buenos Aires by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and limited visibility due to fog. The pilot-in-command failed to realize his altitude was too low when the four engine airplane struck trees located 2,5 km short of runway 11 threshold. The airplane lost height and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 300 meters to the right of the extended centerline. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire, 22 occupants were injured and 42 others were unhurt.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

After a course of 500 meters, the airplane took off and reached a height of 10 meters when the right wing dropped. The right wing tip struck the ground and the airplane crash landed. All three crew members were slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Boeing 727-100

Flight 160 was a scheduled international flight from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Santiago, Chile. The aircraft took off at 2356 hours GMT from Ezeiza Airport, with an IFR flight plan for airways AJG 82 and UG-14, and left the Buenos Aires terminal area via the Mariana intersection, its route taking it over Junín, Villa Reynolds, El Pencal, Mendoza, Juncal and Tabón. The flight level was 310 (31 000 ft). Before flying over Juncal, the aircraft was cleared by the Mendoza Control Centre to descend and maintain flight level 260 (26 000 ft) and after passing Juncal, it was cleared by the Santiago Control Centre to descend and maintain level 250 (25 000 ft) and to pass the Tab6n NDB at flight level 150. It was also given the Santiago weather report, announcing 4/8 nimbostratus at 450 m and 8/8 altostratus at 2 400 m. At 0135 hours, the aircraft passed over Juncal at flight level 260 and then left this level for FL 150; it gave 0142 hours at its estimated time of passage over Tabón NDB and subsequently reported that it was passing through FL 180 (18 000 ft). At 0141 hours, the aircraft passed Tabón NDB and left FL 150 for FL 70 (7 000 ft) and gave 0142 hours as its estimated time of arrival over Colina NDB. Prior to that, Santiago Centre had cleared the aircraft to FL 70 at the Pudahuel Airport ILS outer marker. The aircraft subsequently reported to the Control Centre that it was passing through FL 70; the Centre acknowledged receipt of the message and cleared the flight to make an ILS approach and to change to frequency 118.1 for communication with the Pudahuel Control Tower. The aircraft passed over Colina NDB at about 5 500 ft and continued to descend intercepting the ILS (glide slope) beam at about 4 500 ft, one min 20 sec after passing FL 70. It continued its descent at a rate of about 1 500/2 000 ft/min and descended below the minimum height of 2 829 ft at the outer marker without either the pilot or the co-pilot noting this and on apparently correct indications from the Flight Director. The aircraft continued descending and passed below the minimum height of 1 749 ft published for Pudahuel Airport when suddenly the warning light on the radio altimeter lit up. At this very moment the aircraft levelled off, but its wheels touched the ground and it landed in a field 2 kms north of the ILS outer marker, suffering heavy damage, but without serious injuries to passengers or crew. The accident occurred at 0144 GMT on 28 April, 2144LT on 27 April.

Douglas DC-6

Flight 107 was a scheduled international fiight from Los Cerrillos Airport, Santiago (Chile) to Montevideo, Uruguay, with a scheduled stop at Buenos Aires, Argentina. The flight plan was as follows: (a) VMC - Santiago - Melipilla - Cerro Maipo climbing to 19 000 feet, (b) VMC - Cerro Maipo - San Rafael - Huinca Renanco - Junin - Suipacha - Buenos Aires (Ezeiza) in level flight at 19 800 feet. The aircraft took off at 0806 hours from south to north in the direction of the city of Santiago. It flew low over the city in the Cerro San Cristobal area and later between 0810 and 0812 hours in the vicinity of Cerro Marquehue. At 0817 hours, it made radio contact with Panagra Control to request a change of route via Amarillo - Tumuyan Viejo - Reynolds 5,700 m. Mendoza Control authorized the change of route and asked for the estimated time over Amarillo. The flight replied that it estimated reaching Amarillo at 0336 hours. At 0822 the radio contact came to an end. The aircraft continued inland at low altitude in relation to the surrounding terrain, via Farellones, Lagunillas, Planta Queltehue and Lo Valdés. At 0836 hours, several witnesses saw the aircraft crash into the ridge joining the Catedral and Corona peaks. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 87 occupants have been killed.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Crashed on takeoff at Punta Arenas Airport. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Convair CV-340

After takeoff from Vallenar, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. For unknown reason, the crew was unable to feather the propeller and the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane belly landed in a field located 5 km north of the airport and came to rest. All 30 occupants were evacuates safely.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

A Douglas DC-3C passenger plane, operated by LAN Chile, was destroyed when it impacted a mountainside near Linares, Chile. LAN flight 621 was a domestic passenger flight from Castro to Santiago with en route stops at Puerto Montt, Osorno and Temuco. On board the flight were eight players and the trainer of the Green Cross football team. The DC-3 took off from Temuco at 18:30 hours local time for the last leg of the flight, following Airway 45 and 40 at an altitude of 8,500 feet. Estimated flying time was 2 hours and 30 minutes. While en route the flight was instructed to climb to 9,500 feet because of other traffic at 8500 feet. At 19:10 the crew requested a descent to 9,000 feet because of ice formation on the wings. The controller didn't authorize the descent because of conflicting traffic (LAN flight 205) on Airway 4. The controller later cleared the flight to turn back on Airway 45 and then descend to 6,500 feet on the same Airway, pass over Curico and to continue on Airway 40 to the Santo Domingo beacon. There was no more radio contact with the flight. After seven days of search operations, the wreckage was found on April 10. The airplane had impacted Cerro La Gotera, a mountain located in a sector of Sierra de las Ánimas, and east-northeast of a hill named Lástimas del Pejerrey. The aircraft was flying in a south-westerly direction, impacting 50 m below the summit of the mountain, at an elevation of about 3,500 m (11,480 feet). The wreckage slid down about 14 meters before coming to rest.

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

The approach to Porvenir Airport was completed in strong crosswinds. On touchdown, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames. All 29 occupants were able to evacuate the cabin without serious injuries but the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

Shortly after takeoff from Copiapó-Chamonate Airport, while climbing, the crew informed ground about engine problems and elected to return when the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion near the airport, killing all seven occupants.

Lockheed 10 Electra

While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft christened 'Pedro de Valdivia' hit the slope of Mt Coloso located in the region of Antofagasta. All three occupants were killed. Crew: Roberto Reed Merino, pilot, Enrique Álmos Ojeda, copilot.

Lockheed 10 Electra

The crew landed in the first portion of this short runway located in a hilly terrain near Punta Chilota. The aircraft was unable to stop properly, overran and came to rest. While both crew members Arturo Prado Orozco (captain) and Antonio Dagnino (copilot) were unhurt, the airplane christened 'Inés de Suarez' was damaged beyond repair. It was later transferred by boat to Punta Arenas and then to Valparaiso but was never repaired. The accident occurred in January 1947 (exact date remains unknown).

Lockheed 18 LodeStar

At 2052LT on last 15 of January 1944, the Argentinian city of San Juan was hit by an earthquake. The Chilean government was one of the first country to help Argentina and sent one of its team with this Lockheed 18-56 LodeStar of the Chilean National Carrier LAN Chile. The twin engine aircraft was carrying medics, supply and a medical team as well. Shortly after takeoff from Mendoza-El Plumerillo Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All 11 occupants were killed. Crew: Eduardo Lazo Preuss, pilot, Eduardo von Bischoffeshausen, copilot, Fernando Mella Ulloa, engineer.

Potez 56

En route, while flying too low, the twin engine aircraft hit tree tops, lost a wing and crashed in flames in a ravine near Quilitapia, some 100 km south of Coquimbo. All six occupants were killed, among them the pilot David Vivero Carrasco.

Potez 56

The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Caleta Quebrada Honda, north of Punta Teatinos, near La Serena. All seven occupants were killed, among them the pilot Pancho Larrain Peró.

Junkers JU.86

En route, the pilot encountered technical problems and attempted to make an emergency landing in a desert area located in Pampa de Camarones, some 50 km south of Arica. All six occupants escaped uninjured while the twin engine aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew: Hector Lopehandía, pilot.

Fairchild FC-2

En route from Iquique to Arica, the pilot encountered engine problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft eventually crash landed in a desert area located some 114 km north of Iquique and was damaged beyond repair. Both occupants, unhurt, were rescued three days later. Crew: Luis Carmona Lopehandía, pilot. Passenger: Cantalicio Valdebenito Vargas.

Fairchild FC-2

Shortly after takeoff from Ovalle Airfield, while climbing, the single engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a ravine located in Tuqui, north of Ovalle. All five occupants, among them the pilot Mario Meneses Rocco, were killed.

Fairchild FC-2

Crashed while approaching Chillán Airport. All four occupants were killed, among them pilot Carlos Collao Carmona.

De Havilland DH.60 Moth

En route from Copiapó to Antofagasta, the crew encountered severe turbulences and lost control of the aircraft that crashed into the ground. Both crew Julio Fuentealba and Luis Rebolledo were killed.